Ashland Youth Rally 2010

Jeremy Northrop

            The plans have been made and we are ready to host the Ashland Youth Rally 2010. As I am sure you are aware, this coming Saturday (January 30, 2010) is the day. Registration will begin at 9:00 AM and activities will conclude around 1:30 PM with lunch being served. Brother Jeff Johnston from Ethridge, Tennessee will be one of the speakers and brother Greg Pollock from Booneville will be delivering the second message.

            The theme for the day will be “Count on Christ.” This is taken from the latter part of Hebrews 15:5. There, the writer of Hebrews quotes part of Joshua 1:5 and says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” When Christ is the center-point of our lives, we have a security the world has never known. He is truly an anchor for the soul (see Hebrews 6:19). Many are searching for security in life. They are trying to find it in physical relationships, financial endeavors, and a variety of other ways. In truth, the only real security in life is obedience to God’s divine will. In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus explains the cost of discipleship. Many times, this passage is used to encourage people to count the cost of following Christ. We can almost hear someone ask another before he is baptized, “Have you counted the cost?” There is another question very closely related to this one which must also be considered: Have we counted the cost of not following Christ? In reality, we cannot afford not to follow Christ for He offers things which cannot be found anywhere else in this life.

            Registration for the youth rally will be from 9:00 to 9:30 AM followed by a 30 minute period of singing. Then, at 10:00 AM, Jeff Johnston will deliver a lesson entitled “Follow the Leader.” There are several passages which indicate Jesus is the example for us to follow. Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” In John 13, after washing the disciples feet, Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (verse 15). When Jesus called Peter and Andrew with a  simple, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19). He told the disciples the same in Matthew 8:22. He called Matthew the same way in Matthew 9:9. He uses this same phrase to conclude his calling of the rich young ruler (Mark 10:21). Jesus expects us to follow Him. He is our leader.

            There will be a break following Jeff’s lesson and then a ‘getting-acquainted’ activity. Then, at 11:45, Greg Pollock will present a lesson entitled “I Can Count on Christ to Deliver Me.” This comes primarily from Hebrews 13:5 where the writer quotes Christ as saying “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Through several passages, we learn that living for Christ may not be easy but it will certainly be worth it in the end. John said, “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you” (1John 3:13). Paul said, “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1Peter 4:16). Jesus Himself said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). The good news from all of this is that Jesus is preparing a place for us (John 14:1-7) and one day, we will not have to struggle or worry about the affairs of this life. Recompense will happen in light of what is said in Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” One day, Christ will call all saints home and the wrongs of this life will be over. Jesus will indeed deliver His people.

            Following Greg’s lesson, we will dismiss for lunch and the day will be over. It promises to be a great day of encouragement and worship.

            There are many passages which teach us the importance of helping young people to know God. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Ephesians 6:4, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” There are passages which exhort young people to be active in the work of the Lord. Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” Finally, 1Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” These passages emphasize the importance of helping young people to know God.

            Do you know what would make the day even better? If YOU attended. I know some of you are thinking of all kinds of reasons why you don’t need to come Saturday. You might be thinking it is a ‘Youth Rally’ and so you are too old for it. You might be thinking it will eat into your time on Saturday and you have a lot of things to get done and can’t really spare the time. You might be thinking… Well, I don’t guess I know what you are thinking.

            So, let me share with you what I do know. I know that any time we have the opportunity to worship God, we need to do it. Hebrews 10:25 says we ought not be, “...forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Paul frequently told of how he longed to see his brethren (Romans 15:24; 2Timothy 1:4). He found joy in being with the brethren. Today, we can be encouraged by being with one another. If we all come together on Saturday, we can encourage one another and be uplifted by the events of the day.